October 27 Little Girl, Big Compassion

October 27

Little Girl, Big Compassion

 

2 Kings 5:2-3 Now the Syrians on one of their raids had carried off a little girl from the land of Israel, and she worked in the service of Naaman's wife. 3 She said to her mistress, "Would that my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy."

CONSIDER this: you are living a normal life, going through your daily activities when suddenly an army invades your town. You watch horrified as the army destroys your town and kills many around you. Then the soldiers take you captive. You become a prisoner, forced to be a slave in the land of your conquerors. How would you respond emotionally?

    I doubt many of us would live with the heart of the "little girl from the land of Israel" in this passage. Do you see that amid the turmoil in her life she exhibits great compassion toward her enemy? She has heard that Naaman, the general of the army that has brought her to this new land, has leprosy. Our response might be, "Good. He deserves it." But her response is, "Would that my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy." The little girl is hopeful and even prayerful that this man would be healed! This is grace. This is mercy. This is how to "love your neighbor as yourself." (Leviticus 19:18)

    In that statement, too, the little girl makes a great confession of faith. She knows Elisha is anointed in God's power. She believes Elisha would have compassion on Naaman as well. Most of all, she is faithful to believe God could and would heal Naaman.  

    Is this not a picture of our Savior, who has demonstrated great mercy toward us, who were born his enemies? Paul informs us of God's great compassion and love for us in Romans 5:7-9 "For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life."

    When someone asks you, "What does it mean to be compassionate?" You can point to 2 Kings 5 and dwell on the little girl's compassion for her enemy. You can then turn to Romans 5 to show them we the love of our eternal, compassionate God.

Prayer: Father in Heaven, may we live in gratitude for your mercy to heal us of our sin. Point us to where we must offer your loving compassion today. In Jesus' name, amen.